Sports Utility Vehicle

Crosley Motors advertisement from a 1948 issue of Popular Science 

The vehicle at bottom left is labeled "Sports-Utility; Rear seat obtainable. Lowest priced Crosley – $130 less than station wagon."

My first thought at seeing a Crosley in person was "Wow, that's small!" As a comparison :

Model	1949 Crosley CD station wagon	1949 Ford Custom 2-door station wagon	1949 Chrysler Royal 4-door station wagon	1949 Chevrolet DeLuxe Styleline 4-door steel station wagon
Wheelbase	80 inches	114 inches	125.5 inches	115 inches
Length	145 inches	208 inches	206.5 inches	198 inches
Width	49 inches	71.7 inches	73.5 inches	74 inches
Height	57 inches	62.8 inches	65.5 inches	65.8 inches
Weight	1403 lbs	3523 lbs	4060 lbs	3465 lbs

Except for the height, the dimensions of a Crosley are about 70% of the others. And the weight difference is amazing. 

Super UnderThermia

click to embiggen

SuperUnderThermia is the 2007 Australian of the Year Tim Flannery's latest project and follows his previous effort at establishing new society known as Geothermia. SuperUnderThermia is different in more than one way.

First, this project takes into account rain.
Second, who doesn't like Seamonkeys? (or as they'll be known in the future : SuperUnderThermians)
Third, it shares some of the same essential principles as Geothermia.

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This is my entry for the Flannery Centre's art contest.

(I note disappointingly that the Flannery Centre's own domain simply redirects to another site.) This seems like a good opportunity to note my distaste for naming things (not web sites but buildings etc) after living people. I think it often reflects poorly on both the person deciding the name and the person after whom the eponymous thing is being named.

the Pioneer Plaque

Since a simple star map would become distorted over time by gravity and expansion, the Pioneer plaque used distance from pulsars and the pulsars frequency to note its origin.

wiki notes that the arrow denoting the Pioneer spacecraft's origin received criticism because "arrows are an artifact of hunter-gatherer societies like those on Earth; finders with a different cultural heritage may find the arrow symbol meaningless"

Similarly , one could criticize the drawing of humans drawn in a simplified way that the vast majority of people can understand but may not translate to an alien that would have drawn in a topographic way or drawn heat or sees in another alien way.

But should aliens expect some other aliens' (Earthlings') spacecraft to not use their own language and their own symbols?

Morbo: Hmmm… judging by this the puny humans are nearly as tall as this spacecraft and the spacecraft is several times larger than their planet!

Kang : you have to admit that their planets are evenly spaced in a manner that is pleasing to the eye.

Morbo : The puny humans, don't realize that will only make it easier for Morbo's people to conquer their solar system!

Kang : It's a shame they haven't figured out a phonetic written language.

Morbo : Yes, for these puny humans to have spent so much effort to send a craft so far without asking how we are or describing how they taste is the height of rudeness!

Kang : Yes, yes, their message mostly seems to be about having us looking at them naked and they have drawn some disembodied boobs in the upper left...

Kang : I'm not sure if that is a frontal view or a top view or both.

Morbo : Puny humans only draw 2 bosoms! Pathetic!

Morbo : but these tasty circuits boards have all sorts of cryptic markings on them.

Kang : it must be a secret message. Perhaps it is a clue to a hidden treasure like in that Nicholas Cage movie.

Why not engrave a text explanation on the back or to the side? When dealing with aliens advanced enough for space travel, more information would be more useful. I think if we were to receive a message from aliens the more information received would be better.

(btw, I've always been annoyed at the fact that the 2 people are superimposed over the Pioneer craft – floating in front of it – instead of standing on the same plane as the spacecraft and standing in front of it.)

ElectricLightLand

(Seen at TB but posting at TB's seems broken at the moment, so...)

The great thing about a propane/butane or other torch is that it actually produces visible light. climatetorch.com didn't even remember to list that as a feature. Visible light can be useful. I'm not terribly impressed with their torch. (note the poor kid has had a 50% reduction in her carbon shoe print)

Does it even have a means to produce light on it? It may be a stick not a torch.

Next Earth Hour it may be time for GE to rerun this ad from 1939

click to enlarge

Don't be stupid

Once I rented a 26 foot moving truck. Before he would give me the keys the guy went through the paper work and spent a few minutes telling me to use the mirrors and to signal when changing lanes, to be aware of the truck's length, to brake early enough to allow for the truck to stop, etc. All really obvious stuff. I nodded politely and said "so, basically, you are saying don't be stupid."

If you think these products really need a warning label then I'd make it something simple like "Attention : Don't be stupid."



"Pleases the whole family... A new thrilling recreation as you beautify your lawn." I would want one even more if it were powered by an actual rocket.



5 pounds of cyanide for only 3 bucks. Cheaper and probably easier than using your Rocket Mower to take out a squirrel. But why not use something a bit more personal like the Aeroil burner :



With a 2000º F, 30 inch flame you can use it to destroy weeds. The ad specifically recommends it to kill weeds, seeds and roots, disinfect poultry and livestock quarters and claims 99 uses.

Note that the farmer is wearing both a hat and tie as he uses his mini flame thrower.

Also note that it was sold out of New Jersey, a place that now bans fireworks (even sparklers) and requires a BB gun to be regulated as a firearm (despite a BB gun's complete lack of fire)

Double Minty exercise

A graceful cheek line...depends very much on chewing
The new, taller hairdress accentuates the infatuating contour of a woman's face. No matter which way she turns her head, the rounding and lovely curve of her cheek line dominates the picture. Keep this line from looking old and saggy; chew Double Mint gum. This gentle exercise 5 to 10 minutes daily aids in toning up unused and lazy facial muscles. Try this new Beauty Treatment.

Tops!

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle magazine ad from 1947. Apparently, in 1947 Harley's target demographic was creepy looking guys with dimples who lure unsuspecting young females onto his cycle to take a leisurely ride somewhere isolated where voices may carry but no one is around to hear.

Meanwhile, the young lady waves as if she is the Queen of England.

smoking 2

click to enlarge

my guess at the translation of the last panel : "After an evening of scratching, biting and rolling around in the dirt, my cock is tired and sore and I need a cigarette. A Philip Morris cigarette."

Nothing sells cigarettes like a cockfighting celebrity endorsement.

smoking

click to enlarge

Since I can't read Filipino I can only guess that the smoking scuba diver is explaining the intricacies of smoking a cigarette while underwater while wearing a mask connected to an oxygen tank.

Smoking while swimming shows a real commitment.

TimB

I've noticed that TimB doesn't beg for money on every post. I guess his dignity restrains him. Fortunately, I don’t worry about his dignity.
give 1
give 2
give 3
give 4
give 5
give 6
give 6 version 1(with minor vulgrity)
give 7
Tim B and his money

For relief from aches and pains

scanned from a 1971 women's magazine (may have been Good Housekeeping but I don't recall)

(aspiring model runs to her mother with magazine in hand)
"Mom! Mom! Look! Look, I'm a professional model!"
(mom's jaw drops)
(about a minute of awkward silence)
"Honey, do you... do you know what that is?"
"Sure, I do! It is a deep, penetrating cordless massager. It says right there on the page."
(aspiring model points to the magazine)
"Sweetie, do you know what that's...ummmm... used for?"
"Well, duh!! You can tell by the picture! When my jaw gets tired I can use that to relax it"
(mom faints)

the ad's text:
"Enjoy the benefits of a cordless massager - Beauty is more than skin deep. Deep gentle penetrating vibrations from battery-operated massager soothe neck, shoulder muscles, arms, legs and tired feet. Helps stimulate skin to a new radiance when used with your favorite creams and lotions. Revitalizing vibrations bring satisfying relaxation; relief from aches and pains and stimulates circulation. Cordless massager comes in 3 models. Uses standard size batteries (not included) available everywhere." (The 3 models are the "Mini Massager", "Regular Massager" or "Deluxe Massager" (4.5", 7" or 10"))

By the way, it does say "satisfaction guaranteed or money back"

Pipe Appeal

Scanned from a 1940s magazine.
He has -ahem- "Pipe Appeal"
Note the 1940s leaf raking uniform : hat, sweater vest, pipe. Possibly doubling as his picking up chicks outfit.
Exposure to his "pipe appeal" may have caused her lunatic stare. (click the picture to judge for yourself)
What guy wouldn't want a girl interested in his "pipe appeal"?



This second ad explains that "Pipe Appeal is that 'something extra' that has a real appeal to women"

"You're really 'solid' - when you've got P.A. (Pipe Appeal)" - Conversely, if you are not solid then you probably don't have the Pipe Appeal that the ladies enjoy.